“If you’d like to. I think you’re ready, but if you’d rather spend another day in the pool, we could do that instead.”
“No, I’m ready.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to rush you.”
“I’m sure,” he said quickly.
“How about you, Theresa? Are you ready for the ocean?”
“If Kevin’s ready, then I’m ready.”
“Am I still going to get certified by Tuesday?” Kevin asked.
“If the ocean dives go well, you both will.”
“Awesome.”
“What’s up for the rest of the day?” Theresa asked.
Garrett started loading the tanks in the back of the truck. “I thought we’d go sailing. It looks like it’s going to be great weather.”
“Can I learn how to do that, too?” Kevin asked eagerly.
“Sure. I’ll make you my first mate.”
“Do I need to be certified for that, too?”
“No—that’s up to the captain, and since I’m the captain, I can do it right now.”
“just like that?”
“Just like that.”
Kevin looked at Theresa with wide eyes, and she could almost read his thoughts. First I learn how to dive, then I become a first mate. Wait until I tell my friends .
* * *
Garrett was accurate in predicting ideal weather, and the three of them had a wonderful time on the water. Garrett taught Kevin the basics of sailing—from how and when to tack to anticipating the direction of the wind based on the clouds. As on their first date together, they had sandwiches and salads, but this time they were treated to a family of porpoises that frolicked around the boat as they ate.
It was late by the time they made it back to the docks, and after Garrett showed Kevin how to close up the boat to protect it from unexpected storms, Garrett brought them back to their motel. Since all three of them were exhausted, Theresa and Garrett said good-bye quickly, and both Theresa and Kevin were in bed by the time Garrett arrived back at his house.
The following day, Garrett took them out for their first ocean dive. After the initial nervousness wore off, they began to enjoy themselves and ended up going through two tanks each over the course of the afternoon. Thanks to the calm, coastal weather, the water was clear, with excellent visibility. Garrett took a few photos of them as they explored one of the shallow-water wrecks off the North Carolina coast. He promised to have them developed that week and to send them up as soon as he could.
They spent the evening at Garrett’s house again. After Kevin fell asleep, garrett and Theresa sat close to each other on the deck, caressed by the warm, humid air.
After talking about their earlier dive, Theresa was quiet for a little while. “I can’t believe we’ll be leaving tomorrow night,” she said finally, a trace of sadness in her voice. “These last couple of days have flown by.”
“That’s because we’ve been so busy.”
She smiled. “Now you have a sense of what my life is like in Boston.”
“Always racing around?”
She nodded. “Exactly. Kevin is the best thing that ever happened to me, but he sometimes wears me out. He always has to be doing something.”
“You wouldn’t change it, though, would you? I mean, you don’t want to raise a TV junkie or a kid who sits in his room listening to music all day, do you?”
“No.”
“Then count your blessings. He’s a great kid—I’ve really enjoyed spending time with him.”
“I’m so glad. I know he feels the same way.” She paused. “You know, even though we haven’t spent much time alone on this trip, it seems like I know you a lot better now than when I first came down here by myself.”
“What do you mean? I’m still the same guy I was before.”
She smiled. “You are and you aren’t. The last time I was here, you had me all to yourself, and we both know it’s easier to get involved with someone when you can spend a lot of exclusive time together. This time, you saw what it would really be like with Kevin around . . . and yet you handled the whole thing better than I could have imagined.”
“well, thanks, but it wasn’t that hard. As long as you’re around, it doesn’t matter what we do. I just like spending time with you.”
He put his arm around her, pulling her close. She rested her head on his shoulder. In the silence, they listened as the waves rolled up along the beach.
“Are you going to stay over again tonight?” he asked.
“I was giving it some serious consideration.”
“Would you want me to be a perfect gentleman again?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Are you flirting with me?”
“I’m trying,” she confessed, and he laughed. “You know, Garrett, I really feel comfortable around you.”
“Comfortable? You make it sound like I’m a couch.”
“I don’t mean it like that. I mean I just feel good about myself when we’re together.”
“You should. I feel pretty good about you.”
“Pretty good? That’s it?”
He shook his head. “No, that’s not all.” He looked almost bashful for a second. “After you left the last time, my dad came in and lectured me.”
“What did he say?”
“He said that if you made me happy, that I shouldn’t let you go.”
“And how do you intend to do that?”
“I guess I’ll have to bowl you over with my charisma.”
“You’ve already done that.”
He glanced at her, then looked out over the water. After a moment he spoke quietly. “Then I guess I’ll have to tell you that I love you.”
I love you .
Overhead, the stars were out in full, twinkling in the darkened sky. Distant clouds rode the horizon, reflecting the light of a crescent moon. Theresa listened as the words rolled through her head again.
I love you .
No ambivalence this time, no doubt about what he’d said.
“Do you really?” she whispered finally.
“Yes,” he said, turning to face her, “I do.”When he answered, she saw something in his eyes she hadn’t seen before.
“Oh Garrett . . . ,” she began uncertainly, before Garrett interrupted her with a shake of his head.
“Theresa, I don’t expect you to feel the same way. I just wanted you to know how I feel.” He thought for a moment and found himself remembering the dream he’d had. “Over the last two weeks, a lot of things have happened. . . .” He paused.
She started to say something, but Garrett shook his head. It took a moment for him to continue.
“And I’m not sure I understand everything, but I do know how I feel about you.”
His finger gently moved across her cheek and lips. “I love you, Theresa.”
“I love you, too,” she said softly, trying out the words and hoping they were true.
They held each other for a long time afterward, then went inside and made love, whispering to each other until the early morning hours. But this time, after Theresa went to the bedroom, Garrett slept soundly while Theresa stayed awake, thinking about the miracle that had brought them together.
* * *
the next day passed wonderfully. Whenever they had a chance, Garrett and Theresa held hands, stealing a few furtive kisses when Kevin wasn’t looking.
They spent their day practicing as they had before, and once they had finished their final diving lesson, Garrett gave them their temporary certificates right on the boat. “You can dive whenever and wherever you want now,” he said to Kevin, who handled the certificate almost as if it were gold. “Just send this form in and you’ll have your PADI certificate in a couple of weeks. But remember—it’s never safe to dive alone. Always go with someone else.”
Since it was their last day in Wilmington, Theresa checked them out of the motel, and the three of them went to Garrett’s house. Kevin wanted to spend their last few hours on the beach, and Theresa and Garrett sat with him near the water’s edge. For a while Garrett and Kevin played Frisbee, and realizing it was getting late in the afternoon, Theresa went inside and found something to eat.